GUWAHATI, Nov 15 � �A pathfinder scholar par excellence, Dr Banikanta Kakati had contributed immensely to the society as an expert linguist. His well-researched books, essays etc, are truly the treasure for Assamese literature.�
This was the tribute paid to Dr Kakati by Prof Taburam Taid at a memorial meeting organised by the Sabita Sabha, Guwahati to commemorate the contributions of Dr Banikanta Kakati on the Icon Academy premises here today. Prof Taid was speaking on �The intellectual brilliance of Dr Banikanta Kakati�.
Referring to the works of Dr Kakati, he explained how the noted scholar�s coherent works reflect his in-depth knowledge of the subjects he dealt with.
�He was a man with simple living and high thinking. Whether it is a children�s literature like Pakhila or an account of old Assamese literature Purani Asomiya Sahitya, we can find that the gravity of the subject matter is intact, yet, the language is very lucid and comprehensible,� he said.
Taid also said that though the old Assamese literature has been very beautifully analysed by the author of Purani Asomiya Sahitya, he has never made any subjective comment on the topic.
�Similarly, his Purani Kamrupar Dharmar Dhara reflects his thorough research in the history of Kamrup. The small articles incorporated in the book dealt with different subject matters and thus involved methodical research in diverse fields. His work in English like the Mother Goddess Kamakhya is a landmark study of Tantrism. Another work Assamese: Its Formation and Development is a pioneer book that established him as a linguist,� he said.
Earlier, noted educationist and former president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha Prof Birendranath Datta inaugurated the meeting, which was presided over by president of Sabita Sabha Dhirendranath Chakravartty. In his inaugural lecture, Prof Datta said that Dr Banikanta Kakati pioneered an elite Assamese society that laid stress on knowledge. His writings tried to bridge the gap between the Aryan and non-Aryan sections of the Assamese society,� Datta said.
In the same meeting, educationist Dr Ashok Kumar Goswami released a book Yogdarshanar Samu Parichay, written by the first librarian of Gauhati University and the founder of the Department of Library Science in the university Dr Jogeswar Sarma. The audience of the function included a number of noted educationists and litterateurs.
